African Cup to go ahead despite deadly attack

semiautomatix

semiautomatix

Honorary Master
Joined
Nov 9, 2005
Messages
11,914
Reaction score
220
Location
4051
Luanda - The African Nations Cup will go ahead as planned despite Friday's deadly attack on the Togo team bus which killed the driver and injured nine, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed to AFP.

"Our great concern is for the players, but the championship goes ahead," Souleymane Habuba, CAF's communications director, said.
Click to expand...

http://www.news24.com/Content/Afric...African_Cup_to_go_ahead_despite_deadly_attack

Only in Africa would they continue. When the Sri Lankan cricket team were attacked in Pakistan the entire tour was cancelled and the entire Pakistan labelled as a "no play" are for the sport.

I wonder if FIFA should intervene since CAF clearly has the attitude that this is Africa and we just need to deal with it?
 
It is terrible when anyone gets attacked but even more so when it is a professional sports team.

In saying that, however, I do wonder whether it is sensible to bow down to terrorists and effectively give them what they want, a cancelled tournament and more publicity?

I think it is also important for us to quote these two parts :

"We need to know all the facts, we haven't got them all yet. We can't give a full reaction from reports that we have got from the media."
Click to expand...

Habuba did, however, question why Togo, in contrast to the other 15 teams making their way to Angola for the biennial competition, had elected to travel by road rather than flying.

"CAF's regulations are clear, teams are required to fly rather than travel by bus."
Click to expand...
 
Further to the above :

What happens now: At time of writing, a crisis meeting is said to be taking place in the Angolan capital of Luanda between local officials and the Confederation of African Football over the future of the tournament. It is not thought that a call-off is imminent, but moving the Cabindan games to Luanda itself seems a likely outcome. As for the Togolese squad, quotes to media sources from the players themselves indicate that there is no appetite to continue the tournament, and the Sparrow Hawks may thus withdraw.
Click to expand...

And the article gives further background to the attack :

http://goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2...-conflict-background-to-the-togo-bus-shooting

None of this justifies the attack, and as stated it is a terrible event, but I think the media jumping to conclusions to get a story out is silly. Further to this the organisers cannot be held responsible for the safety of the players if they do not follow tournament protocol.
 
timgaul said:
Only in Africa would they continue.

I wonder if FIFA should intervene since CAF clearly has the attitude that this is Africa and we just need to deal with it?
Click to expand...

And one final thing. So it is only in Africa that they would continue an event after an attack? Hmm.... some may recall the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre in which eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and one West German police officer, as well as a number of terrorists, were killed. The response to that, after a brief suspension :

Willi Daume, president of the Munich organizing committee, initially sought to cancel the remainder of the Games, but in the afternoon Brundage and others who wished to continue the Games prevailed, stating that they could not let the incident halt the games. Brundage stated "The games must go on, and we must... and we must continue our efforts to keep them clean, pure and honest." The decision was endorsed by the Israeli government and Israeli Olympic team chef de mission Shmuel Lalkin.
Click to expand...
 
LancelotSA said:
And one final thing. So it is only in Africa that they would continue an event after an attack? Hmm.... some may recall the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre in which eleven Israeli athletes and coaches and one West German police officer, as well as a number of terrorists, were killed. The response to that, after a brief suspension :
Click to expand...

Just remember: the Games were in full swing by that point. In this instance the tournament hasn't even started, and there is a point of return.

Also that was foreigners going after a very specific target. In Angola it is pure unrest throughout the nation making everyone a target.

In Munich there was no fear of further attacks, in Angola it could very well happen! That is the major difference.
 
Last edited:
timgaul said:
Just remember: the Games were in full swing by that point. In this instance the tournament hasn't even started, and there is a point of return.

Also that was foreigners going after a very specific target. In Angola it is pure unrest throughout the nation making everyone a target.

In Munich there was no fear of further attacks, in Angola it could very well happen! That is the major difference.
Click to expand...

I am sure I could find other examples of events that have continued after attacks. But it may prove fruitless. When someone says only in Africa would a tournament continue, you point out another example elsewhere in the world and then the goal posts move...

Interesting that you feel they were certain that there would be no further attacks at the 1972 games especially considering some teams felt it best to withdraw for fear of reprisals...

And we need to consider the fact that those who were attacked were clearly not following security protocol? Should the organisers be held liable for this?


I am not at all questioning the tragedy and sympathise with those involved but I just find it interesting when subjective opinions about Africa are thrown into the mix. But anyway that is enough from me on the subject. It was clear from the initial post that the intention was not just to report the incident.
 
Last edited:
It's not pure unrest throughout the whole nation :rolleyes:
The attack happened at Cabinda which should never be hosting any matches. It's apart of Angola that is separate from the mainland and contains all these rebels fighting for independence.
If they do keep the tournament on then they should just move the matches scheduled in Cabinda out of there.
angola.gif
 
LancelotSA said:
I am sure I could find other examples of events that have continued after attacks. But it may prove fruitless. When someone says only in Africa would a tournament continue, you point out another example elsewhere in the world and then the goal posts move...

Interesting that you feel they were certain that there would be no further attacks at the 1972 games especially considering some teams felt it best to withdraw for fear of reprisals...

And we need to consider the fact that those who were attacked were clearly not following security protocol? Should the organisers be held liable for this?


I am not at all questioning the tragedy and sympathise with those involved but I just find it interesting when subjective opinions about Africa are thrown into the mix. But anyway that is enough from me on the subject. It was clear from the initial post that the intention was not just to report the incident.
Click to expand...

Fine, let Africa go ahead for the sake of proving a point, even though it endangers people's lives. However, if more people die then there will be a collective "I told you so" echoing from the whole world which will damage this continent's image beyond repair. Rather selfish on the part of Angola and CAF, don't you think?
 
And what if nobody else dies?

Then you and the other Africa haters will just keep quiet and dissapear?
 
silent_shadow said:
It's not pure unrest throughout the whole nation :rolleyes:
The attack happened at Cabinda which should never be hosting any matches. It's apart of Angola that is separate from the mainland and contains all these rebels fighting for independence.
If they do keep the tournament on then they should just move the matches scheduled in Cabinda out of there.
angola.gif
Click to expand...

Issued by the Australian government to all nationals travelling to Luanda:

We advise you to reconsider your need to travel to Angola, with the exception of the capital Luanda, because of the high risk of civil unrest and criminal violence.

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Luanda because of the risk of civil unrest and criminal violence.

There have been reports of violent incidents against foreigners in Cabinda and North and South Lunda Provinces.
Click to expand...

So yes, the entire nation with maybe the exception of the capital. However, it really doesn't affect me if more people die. So lets continue this game of Russian Roulette and see if we can't damage this continents image further, shall we?
 
Last edited:
timgaul said:
Fine, let Africa go ahead for the sake of proving a point, even though it endangers people's lives. However, if more people die then there will be a collective "I told you so" echoing from the whole world which will damage this continent's image beyond repair. Rather selfish on the part of Angola and CAF, don't you think?
Click to expand...

It is only the few who enjoy gloating in the failures of the continent who would be saying "I told you so". I am now going to have to waste my time to find other events which continued despite terrorist threats....

Oh, and out of interest did you take your time to check out the Australian government warnings for other African countries? It seems we actually needed to hold this tournament in Australia!

If the team from Togo travelled by bus all the way they would have gone through Benin (exercise caution), Nigeria (reconsider your need to travel/do not travel), Cameroon (high degree of caution/do not travel), Gabon (high degree of caution)..............
 
Last edited:
LancelotSA said:
It is only the few who enjoy gloating in the failures of the continent who would be saying "I told you so". I am now going to have to waste my time to find other events which continued despite terrorist threats....

Oh, and out of interest did you take your time to check out the Australian government warnings for other African countries? It seems we actually needed to hold this tournament in Australia!
Click to expand...

You seem forget that people died because of this tournament. It doesn't really get much worse than that. So I think we're a long way past "I told you so".
 
I am happy that my original assessment of your actual reason for the original post has indeed proven true. It had little to do with posting a news item.

Final word is that it is in the hands of the organisers to decide what to do. I personally feel that it is best not to play into the hands of terrorist. they want to cripple a country. Don't let them. It is business as usual but with heightened security.

I'm actually wondering where the calls are for FIFA to reconsider hosting the world cup in SA as a result of this. After all this sort of thing only happens in Africa! I can just see people sitting there rubbing their hands hoping that something happens during the tournament this year. :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
LancelotSA said:
I am happy that my original assessment of your actual reason for the original post has indeed proven true. It had little to do with posting a news item.

Final word is that it is in the hands of the organisers to decide what to do. I personally feel that it is best not to play into the hands of terrorist. they want to cripple a country. Don't let them. It is business as usual but with heightened security.

I'm actually wondering where the calls are for FIFA to reconsider hosting the world cup in SA as a result of this. After all this sort of thing only happens in Africa! I can just see people sitting there rubbing their hands hoping that something happens during the tournament this year. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Fortunately South Africa has proven itself capable of handling large tournaments safely. Angola has never had that track record, and it appears it never will. That is why you're not hearing those calls.

Oh, and now you're being a drama queen. There is nobody waiting to rub their hands in glee at the misfortune of others. People in this country have a right to raise such issues since many are frightened of leaving their houses. Yes, we're not as safe as the US, Europe or Australia so such concerns will never just disappear.
 
Last edited:
timgaul said:
Fortunately South Africa has proven itself capable of handling large tournaments safely. Angola has never had that track record, and it appears it never will. That is why you're not hearing those calls.

Oh, and now you're being a drama queen. There is nobody waiting to rub their hands in glee at the misfortune of others. People in this country have a right to raise such issues since many are frightened of leaving their houses. Yes, we're not as safe as the US, Europe or Australia so such concerns will just disappear.
Click to expand...

When is he not? Melodramatic rubbish....
 
timgaul said:
Fortunately South Africa has proven itself capable of handling large tournaments safely. Angola has never had that track record, and it appears it never will. That is why you're not hearing those calls.

Oh, and now you're being a drama queen. There is nobody waiting to rub their hands in glee at the misfortune of others. People in this country have a right to raise such issues since many are frightened of leaving their houses. Yes, we're not as safe as the US, Europe or Australia so such concerns will just disappear.
Click to expand...


Yeah right I live in a shoe box and have never seen the comments people make. You also get people who instead of just reporting an incident on a factual basis will say stupid things like "only in Africa" and of course those sort of comments would get applauded by many on here. Bloody secret MYSAS members in disguise!

smokey said:
When is he not? Melodramatic rubbish....
Click to expand...

Ha ha yeah yeah you are all out of the same mould....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X